Houston-area bridges in need of repair

Published 1:40 pm, Friday, July 25, 2014

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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The Yale Street bridge, south of I-10

Year built: 1931

Owned by: Municipality

This bridge is eligible for historical designation, but is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet modern design standards. The bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2016, transportation writer Dug Begley reports at HoustonChronicle.com.

This bridge is listed as structurally deficient, with the support system underneath the bridge in poor condition. The bridge has been listed as deficient since 2008, and prior to 2008 it was listed as functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards. It was recommended that the bridge be replaced.

The support system directly under the roadway is in poor condition. The support system underneath the bridge and the roadway surface are in fair condition. The bridge has been listed as structurally deficient since 2012.

This bridge is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards.

North Main Street over Clear Creek in Pearland

Year built: 1963

Owned by: TxDOT

This bridge is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards.

Photo: Google Earth Screengrab

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South Braeswood Boulevard east of Fondren

Year built: 1970

Owned by: Municipality

This bridge has been listed as structurally deficient since 2010, with the bridge's support structures in poor condition.

South Braeswood Boulevard east of Fondren

Year built: 1970

Owned by: Municipality

This bridge has been listed as structurally deficient since 2010, with the bridge's support structures in poor condition.

Photo: Google Earth Screengrab

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Pearland Parkway over Mary's Creek, north of John Lizer in Pearland

Year built: 1997

Owned by: Municipality

This bridge is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards.

Pearland Parkway over Mary's Creek, north of John Lizer in Pearland

Year built: 1997

Owned by: Municipality

This bridge is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards.

Photo: Google Earth Screengrab

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Old Galveston Road at Mustang Bayou in Alvin

Year built: 1979

Owned by: Municipality

The latest NBI inspection from January 2012 stated that all portions of the bridge structure are in poor condition. Replacement of the bridge is recommended. The bridge has been listed as structurally deficient since 2008.

This bridge is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards.

Dulles Road northbound and southbound at Oyster Creek, in Sugar Land

Year built: 1989

Owned by: Municipality

This bridge is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current federal design standards.

Photo: Google Earth Screengrab

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Houston-area bridges in need of repair

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The Houston area is full of bridges that need a little TLC. But as it is with most types of infrastructure, from road potholes to drainage, repairs come slowly and sometimes not at all.

The Texas Department of Transportation maintains a list of all bridges in the state that are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Neither categorization renders the bridge unsafe to drive on, although some may have load limits, TxDOT spokesman Nick Wade said Friday.

"The term 'structurally deficient' is one of the terms used by the Federal Highway Administration to designate bridges eligible for federal funding," Wade said, adding that the repair needs listed in the slideshow above are routine maintenance issues that do not pose a safety risk.

A bridge that floods frequently could also be listed as structurally deficient.

The phrase "functionally obsolete," another term used to designate bridges for federal funding, means that the bridge was built using federal design standards that are no longer in practice.

Bridges around the area may be owned by the state, the county, the city or some other entity. When a bridge becomes eligible for federal funding, TxDOT notifies the owner of the bridge.

"When a structural problem is discovered, three option are considered: (1) post reduced weight limits that restrict the gross weight of vehicles using the bridge; (2) perform maintenance on the bridge to repair the damage; and/or (3) if necessary, repair or rehab the bridge through the Highway Bridge Program administered by TxDOT," Wade said.

Click through the slideshow above to see some of the Houston area bridges labeled structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and search the database to find other bridges that need repair in your area.

Data on the status of Houston area bridges was obtained from TxDOT, and further information on bridge construction and inspection reports was gathered from UglyBridges.com, which uses data from the National Bridge Inventory.